What should I do about swollen feet caused by rheumatic heart disease?

Written by Zhang Yue Mei
Cardiology
Updated on February 23, 2025
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Patients with rheumatic heart disease who experience swelling in their feet usually suffer from heart failure. First and foremost, it is important to rest and avoid excessive exertion to alleviate the burden on the heart, ensuring adequate sleep and relaxation, maintaining a pleasant mood, consuming easily digestible foods, and following a low-fat, low-salt diet, particularly avoiding high-sodium foods. Eating foods high in sodium can lead to water and sodium retention, which increases the burden on the heart and worsens swelling. In severe cases, it is necessary to use effective diuretic medications under the guidance of a doctor to reduce the cardiac load and eliminate fluid retention.

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Written by Zhang Yue Mei
Cardiology
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Are the symptoms of rheumatic heart disease severe?

Rheumatic heart disease is a type of organic heart disease where the heart valves are damaged, leading to stenosis and insufficiency. Symptoms vary with the extent of the damage. Mild damage does not significantly alter hemodynamics, and there may be no clinical symptoms, allowing for unrestricted physical activity. Severe damage results in noticeable changes in hemodynamics, presenting with symptoms of heart failure such as coughing, expectoration, cyanosis, palpitations and shortness of breath after activity, swelling of the lower limbs, and indigestion among other signs of heart dysfunction. Early treatment is necessary to prevent worsening of heart failure and to safeguard the patient’s life.

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Written by Jia Qiu Ju
Cardiology
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Can rheumatic heart disease cause pain throughout the body?

Rheumatic heart disease itself does not cause generalized pain, but during the acute phase of rheumatic fever, generalized joint pain or fever-induced muscle soreness can occur due to the disease. Rheumatic heart disease arises when rheumatic fever affects the heart valves, leading to conditions such as stenosis and insufficiency. This typically affects the mitral and aortic valves but can also involve the tricuspid and pulmonary valves. Clinical symptoms of rheumatic heart disease primarily include heart dysfunction, chronic heart failure, or acute heart failure episodes, and can also present with arrhythmias, predominantly atrial fibrillation, which can lead to an enlargement of the atria and the formation of mural thrombi, resulting in thromboembolic complications.

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Written by Zhang Yue Mei
Cardiology
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Is rheumatic heart disease hereditary?

Rheumatic heart disease is not hereditary, and it is not a genetic disease; it is not directly related to genetics. It is mainly due to an abnormal immune response caused by streptococcal infection, which leads to damage to the heart valves, resulting in stenosis and insufficiency of the heart valves. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of rheumatic heart disease. Very rare rheumatic streptococcal infections can be reduced by using effective antibiotics to control the streptococcal infection. Common diseases that cause streptococcal infections include tonsillitis and upper respiratory tract infections. Once tonsillitis or an upper respiratory tract infection occurs, effective antibiotics should be used to control the infection as soon as possible.

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Written by Di Zhi Yong
Cardiology
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Does rheumatic heart disease cause joint pain?

Rheumatic heart disease can present with joint pain, especially if the patient has a history of rheumatic arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, which can be associated with rheumatic heart disease. There is a correlation between the two, but the possibility of rheumatic heart disease cannot be ruled out even if the patient does not have a history of rheumatic diseases. Currently, the treatment is mainly symptomatic. Rheumatic heart disease can include conditions such as mitral stenosis or mitral regurgitation. Murmurs can be heard between the heart chambers, and treatment may involve using medications that strengthen the heart and improve cardiac function.

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Written by Zhang Yue Mei
Cardiology
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How does one get rheumatic heart disease?

Rheumatic heart disease is a type of organic heart disease caused by the body's abnormal reaction to infection with hemolytic streptococcus, leading to valve damage and the occurrence of rheumatic heart disease. It is directly related to upper respiratory tract infections and tonsillitis. To prevent the occurrence of heart disease, it is important to control infections early. Upon the appearance of upper respiratory tract infections, tonsillitis, or tonsillar suppuration, timely selection of effective antibiotics for treatment can control the infection early and prevent the onset of rheumatic heart disease.